[Important Information for Employees] The Death of Dr. Richard Beach

[Gerianne Downs]

Dear Members of Our Campus Community,

It is with great sadness that I let you know of the Aug. 21, 2024, passing
of Dr. Richard Beach, longtime colleague, professor of geography and
director of the Center for the Study of Canada and international education.
He was 83.

Dr. Beach was known on campus and in the community for his work in
international education and Canadian studies, but he joined SUNY
Plattsburgh as an assistant professor in geography in August 1972. Promoted
to associate professor in 1977, he also held the temporary position of
director for international education, which spanned from 1977 to 1979. He
was named director in the spring 1981 semester and was promoted to full
professor in April 1985.

Dr. Beach was then named director of the Center for the Study of Canada and
International Education in June 1986.

The State University of New York recognized Dr. Beach’s contributions to
service when in July 1996 he was promoted to the rank of distinguished
service professor. In addition to being awarded the distinguished service
professorship, Dr. Beach was also the recipient of a SUNY Chancellor’s
Award for Excellence in Teaching.

After 28 years at SUNY Plattsburgh, Dr. Beach retired in December 2000.

He was born in Montreal, graduating from McGill University with his
bachelor’s degree in education. From there, he earned his master’s degree
from Central Michigan University and his doctorate in geography from the
University of Pittsburgh.

He and his late wife, Janice, who had taught math and served as math skills
specialist in Student Support Services until her death in 1998, moved to
Plattsburgh in 1970 where they started their family, which includes
daughter Kathy of Blowing Rock, N.C., and son Michael of Washington, D.C.,
who survive him.

In 2007, Dr. Beach married Barbara Tousaw, who, along with her children,
daughters Heather of Calgary, Alberta, and Wendy of Montreal, and son, Tim,
also of Calgary, also survive him.

“All of us, myself included, have directly benefitted from the daily
commitment Richard made to advancing Canadian and Quebec studies,” said Dr.
Christopher Kirkey, director of the Center for the Study of Canada and
Institute on Quebec Studies. “We are all far better as a result of his
passion, creative powers, and sense of purpose.”

Amy Sotherden, assistant director at the center and a former student and
staff member during Dr. Beach’s tenure, said that he “was a master of his
craft, a great adventurer, and renowned from various corners of the earth.”

“His prominence and leadership within the Canadian studies community
impacted innumerable people and lives,” she said. “Decades of countless
American students and educators benefited from his knowledge, insight, and
teaching, which thankfully made this world more curious and informed about
Canada.’”

Funeral services will be held in Austin, Quebec, near his beloved Lake
Memphremagog, Saturday, Oct. 12 to be followed by a celebration of life at
the family cottage in Knowlton’s Landing.

Donations may be made to the Center for the Study of Canada in care of
the Plattsburgh
College Foundation
<https://alumni.plattsburgh.edu/s/1603/bp19/interior.aspx?sid=1603&gid=1&pgid=1486#gsc.tab=0>
.

A full obituary can be found at
https://www.fullereast.com/tributes/Richard-Beach.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Fuller Funeral Home East Naples, 4735
Tamiami Trail East, Naples, Florida, 34112, 239-417-5000,
https://www.fullereast.com/.

Our condolences to all who knew and loved him.

Please be careful and stay safe,

Gerianne



*GERIANNE DOWNS*

(She/her/hers)

Associate Director of Communications

Office of the President

151 Hawkins Hall

101 Broad Street

Plattsburgh, N.Y. 12901

(o) 518-564-3094

(f) 518-564-2094

*plattsburgh.edu <http://plattsburgh.edu/>*
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